Messages

7031

General Mach Discussion / Re: intreruption's in movement

« on: October 08, 2008, 06:03:41 PM »

HI automatic,
Can you provide a little more info on your system?
Using  the parallel port, stepper motors, any break out boards , pinouts are correct, double checked wiring / hookup!
Were you able to tune the motors? What sound are they making? Do they just stop?
Just need some more to go on.
Rich

7032

General Mach Discussion / Re: Setting up Steps per inch - Need Clarification

« on: October 08, 2008, 04:20:36 PM »

Screw maping is still in Mach under "FUNCTION CONFIG" but don't remember seeing any info on it or a posting about it.

If you have a "sweet spot" along the axis, and, you do a lot work in that vicinity, it may make sense to adjust steps / unit
for that area and live with the tolerence outside of it.

As far as the +- spec for the ball screws, you MAY find that it will gain or decrease ie; for +-.003"/ft.  ball screw on my mills X axis it will actually gain very accurately and linear in fashion .003 in a foot and will also linearly return to the start point, and  it will vary differently in the other direction from that start point.....never mover than .003" over any 1 foot section of it.  Spec's don't always say what you think they say. 

So would you "fudge the steps", base it on the 12" run in one direction, or about the some point of the overall profile.
Most users will never really know what they have.

I totaly agree with Jimpinder that they should be calculated. I also totaly agree with Gerry on the little refinement part
of the steps.

In Neutral Territory
RICH

7033

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC Gear Cutting

« on: October 07, 2008, 08:17:00 PM »

Carl,
I understand your need for accuracy. In fact, isn't it just amazing what you get for a $10 Timex!
Since your into gears I have attached my Excel spread sheet which caluculates all dimensions you will
need to draw a gear and was used to make some gear cutters I made. To use it just put the pitch and #
of gears, and pressure angle in and it will calculate the rest.

You can do all the calc's you want, but when all is said and done, it goes back to all the components of the
machine system, just like what Ray said. Every component of the system contributes to the accuracy of the
finished piece. A cutter won't run true away from the spindle within .0001" , lucky you get .001".
I think you should just try cutting some gears and see what your equipment will do. The accuracy
of the cut gear is defined by what it will be used for, and in a time piece isn't there some adustment.
Even measuring the accuracy of a cut gear is a challenge without the right equipment.
RICH

7034

LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn

« on: October 07, 2008, 03:27:31 PM »

Clive,
I assume you mean "ainnerprofile.dxf" which is in the MACH3>LCAMSAMPLES folder created on your drive when Mach was installed?
If that's the one, it imports, clean and converts just fine in Lazycam.
RICH

7035

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Taig CNC Lathe: First Run...

« on: October 07, 2008, 06:54:16 AM »

Pete,
When i watched the video from your link above there was morse code in the background and figured that
you deliberately put it in. Maybe it''s just me as the same thing happens when i go to the grocery store check out.
To manny radio operator code competitions. I quess.
  RICH

7036

General Mach Discussion / Re: CNC Gear Cutting

« on: October 06, 2008, 10:46:50 PM »

Carl,
Just for kicks check out motorized positioning tables from Klinger, NRC, Newport. It will quickly give you an idea of what
you get from high end / high priced tables.
Additionally, Davidson Optronics has a nice conversion table relative to angular to linear conversion.
Just some info LOL

RICH
 

7037

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Taig CNC Lathe: First Run...

« on: October 06, 2008, 09:52:32 PM »

Dave,
Keep it up and you'll need a shop expansion.
Nice lathe and hope it works well. You got to admit there is definitely some satisfaction
in building your owne stuff.

Peter,
..  ....  .-  -..    -   .-. ---   ..-   -...  -..  .     -.-.   ---  .--.  -.-.  ..  -.  --.    -   ....  .    -.-.  ---   -..  .   ---  -.
-.--  ---   ..-   .-.  ...-   ..  -..   . ---!   

.-.  ..   -.-.  ....         ( ...   ---   --    .   .--   ..   .    .-.   -..     ..-.   ---   .-..   -.-.   ...    ..  --   ....  .   .-.  .   / ....   ..   ....  ..!  ) 
R    I    C     H

7038

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: Taig CNC mill

« on: October 06, 2008, 09:23:49 PM »

Peter,
Enjoyed the video along with the mill pictures.
Glad your enjoying your toys.
So how manny boats do you have now?
RICH

7039

SmoothStepper USB / SS & MACH V3.042.012

« on: October 06, 2008, 08:56:17 PM »

Things seem to be looking up with the latest Mach test version and SS plug-in.
Threading seems to be working well and they also took care of us users with the punny lathes.
So if your spindle slows down due to cutting, fear not, the z axis adjusts accordingly.
Did notice that the DRO didn't show the slow down in speed ( may be a Mach setting ).

The DRO rpm is working great. I use a single slotted disc, and before the readout wouldn't go over
200 RPM. Never made it wider and now with the latest version reads 1-1300 rpm within +- 2 rpm.

Good job. 

Now if you get the backlash working with the SS life will realy be good.

I know, some people are never happy!
 ::)RICH

7040

LazyTurn / Re: LazyTurn

« on: October 06, 2008, 08:28:35 PM »

Clive,
Post your dxf file and I'll give it try in Lazcam.
RICH